Football line charging apparatus



July-4, 1933. BpF. OAKES FOOTBALL LINE CHARGING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22. 1931 4 -7-0 FIVE):

Patented July 4,1933

IBEBNARJJ'FQ CAKES, or nmconn,

FOOTBALL LINE CHARGING APPARATUS 7 Application filed January 22, 1831. Serial K016103415: v

This invention relates to an apparatus thflsis adapted to be used in the operation of instructing .01 coaching football players. 0m ofvmy' invention is to provide an Ipparatus, which, in addition to being of gmterial assistance in instructing'football layers in the fundamentals of defensive line play; will also develop .co-ordinationand quickness of'action in the persons who use the apparatus.

reproduce with substantial accuracy the con (lit-ions which a -player in" azdefensive line encounters or issubje'cted to in charging an olensiye' line.

Another object is to providean apparatus of the kind above described, that has pro-v visibnfor enabling a defensive line player to be' ins tructed in :the use offhis right arm and in the use of his left arm in charging'an ofllansiye line. p And still another object of my invention is to provide a practicable football line charglug apparatus of simple design that can in: instructing all of the players of a. de fe'nsive line, and which can be easily adjusted, changed-or modified to alter therelationship' offtheelements' of the apparatus that represent 'ofle'nsive line-players and to vary the tension-of the springs or other means used to resist'movement of said elements when said el'fiielits are subjected to blows or thrusts by the user of the apparatus, I To'this end I have devised an apparatus, which, in its simplest -form, will consist of ohe'element that represents the head or head andshoulders of anoffensive line player, and a element that representsone shoulder bfon'ers'ide'portion of the body of an adjaofi'ensive line player. Said elements are (Jed apart so as to form a pathway 1: rough which the user charges, forwardly thence ofthe apparatus, and the element mentioned, which, for convenience, I midis? to as the head element, is prefera li'nnged a trifle in advance'of the other eiement,'referred to, for convenience, as the element", so as to represent the apposition of the'head of an oflensive s both hands of the user. "The body element Another object is to provide an apparatus for thelgeneml pnrposedeseribed, that will line player and the the adjacent player of the ofi'ensive line. 'The head element is sustained by asupportingstructure located behind. saidelement, and is mounted on said supporting structurein such a way that it is "capable of vibrating, yielding or moving laterally out of the-forward path of theuser'when said element is subjected to a sidewise thrust, blow or push from one or is sustained by a supporting structure located at the side of same andjis reciprocatingly mounted on said supporting structure insuch away that it is capable of yielding or moving laterally out of the forwardpath of the user. of the apparatus when subjected to a lateralthrust, blow or push from the shoulderor body of the user in the operation of charging forwardly between said elements. In viewof thefact that it is essen tial to, instruct defensive line players in the use of both the right hand and the left hand in charging an offensive line, a complete apparatus embodyingmy invention will comprise two body elements arranged at opposite sides of a head-element located at a point substantially midway and preferably slightly in'advance of said body elements, said three elements-co-operating with each other to repcndeavors to. charge, either to the right or to the left of the oiiensive line player represented by the headelement.

resent three playersof an offensive line through which the user of the apparatus Theelements, above referred to will usug5 ally consist of padded members carried by springs or'by devices backed up by springs, and arranged inv sufficiently close proximity to the ground to require the user to assume a substantially stooplngposturein charging forwardly. between two elementsof the apparatus that representofi'ensive line pla er-s.

The particular shape, design and detai s'of construction of; the head. element and the theywill be capable of yielding or moving laterally, but willrequire a blow or thrust of considerable force to deflect them laterally bodyelements; is, immaterial and various means maybe'used' to sustain said elements and'supportthem in such. a-mannerthat out of the forward path of the user. 7 In the preferred form of myinvention herein 'illus-" trated the head element is carried by a horizontally-disposed, laterally-flexible leaf spring that projects forwardly from a post imbedded in the ground, and the two body elements that are arranged at opposite sides of said head element are connected to spring pressed reciprocating plungers mounted in posts imbedded in the ground and arranged at an angle of approximately 20 to the center post that carries the head element. I wish it to be understood, however, that the details of constructionof the apparatus are immate rial, and that the co-actin elements orparts of 'theapparatus ma be c anged or modified 'in various'ways wit out departing from the spirit of my invention.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a top plan view of a football line charging, apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention." I

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of'said apparatus, taken at a'slight angle to Figure 1, so as to more clearly illustrate the centrally-disposed head element and the bodyelement at the left of same. 7

Figure 3 is a vertical sectionalview, taken on the line '33 of Figure 1 and- Figure 4 is a view similar to Fi re 3, re-

duced in size, showing the head e ement re-V versed. v 1 v s In the preferred form of my invention 7 herein illustrated A designates the part of the apparatus previously referred to as the head ments are usually mounted so that they will positioned about 2' or 2% feet above the surface of the-ground, and the'head element A is disposed substantiallymidway andpreferably slightly in advance of the body elementsB and B, in viewof the fact that the element A is intended to represent the head of a player which is usually extended slightly forwardly beyond his shoulders. As previously stated, the elements A, B and B may be of any preferred construction, but they will usually beconstructed from'hea-vy boards covered with; suitable padding that will be capable of successfully withstanding the rough usage and wear to which they are subjected in the normal use of the apparatus.

:In the apparatus herein illustrated the head element A is attached to the front end of a horizontallydisposed leaf springl that is sustained by a vertical post or upright 2 imbedded in the ground-and set far enou h to'the rear ofthe body elementsB; and

soithatit will not interfere with the .forward movement of a person who charges between the head elementA and one of the elements at the side of saidhead ele-' ment. One convenient way of mounting. the

leaf spring 1 is to forma vertically-disposed support that is located considerably in advance of the body elements at opposite sides of'said head element. The above described method of mounting the head element A on its supporting post 2 is also desirable, in that it permits the spring 1 'to'be shortened or lengthened easily to vary the tension of same or to shift the head element A forwardly or rearwardly,and it permits'said head element to be reversed, as shown in Figure 4, in the event that the blow or movement beinlg taught to the use of the apparatus is of sue a nature that the user requires an unobstructed space between the body elements B and B, ,or requires an unobstructed space surrounding the headelement A.

The body'elements B and B are of the same construction,and each of said elements is attached tothe 'front end of a horizontally-disposed reciprocating plunger 5, that slides through a horizontally-disposed hole or tubular guide in the upper end portion of a supporting post or upright, 6 located at a point to one side of and in advance of the center. post 2 which carries the head element A. The plunger 5'is provided at its rear end with a stop or abutment 7 that limits the forward movement of the body element relative- 1y to its supporting post 6, and a coiled expansion spring Sis-.mounted on said plunger, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, so as to normal- 'ly maintain the body element in spaced relationship with the head element A, as shown in full lines in Figure 1, but permit said body element to move laterally, as shown in 'brokenlines in Figure 1, out of the path of the user who charges forwardly between said body element and the head element A. In order to prevent the body element from twisting or turning, said element is provided with horizontally-disposed guide rods 9 that project rearwardly from same throu h guides 10 attached to the side faces of t e supporting post 6. r

The center post 2 and the two side posts 6 are arranged in substantially triangular relationship,as shown in Figure. 1, and if desired, the imbedded portion of the center post 2 may be provided with cross pieces 11. or any other suitable means that will prevent said center post from turning orrotating, due

was lateralblows, thrusts or forces o exerts on the head element 'A in the normalis o! the apparatus. I also prefer the o'enterpostfl with a eu'shion or M l? as to eliminate'the Poss iib-ility of tke uadr being injnredby stnkingagainst it! est in the operation of charging for 1 Ward y through theapparatus; The pad 12 i'a prfel'ebly constructed in such a way that J innate easily removed from the poet and reversed when it, becomes-necessary or desim'ble to reverse the head elementA, and

ilfifnny reierredmeans'may be used to retain pad 12 in position on the post 2, I'pkferto' use a l-aeing'lilto "bold said pad inoperative position, as shown in Figure" 2.

" timpparatus of'the construction above demaddition' to being of great value in" instructing football players in the funda- MS of defensive line play, also develops co-ordination and quickness of action in the who use the apparatus. It is capa of being used in instructing galll ofthe i .7

' pirat one side'or the other of the con and the user-will assume a posi- V frontof the apparatus at-apoint m tothe right or to the left of the head A-,'de'pending upon whether the user into forwardly to-the right orto the loftofthe'element A, In charging forwardlythrough theapparatus to the right of the element A, the user maintains-his right was! a straightened condition and'exerts a b low or thrust on the head element A in a direction to move saidelementjlatera-lly' to left, its in broken lines in Figmonths blow or thrust being of sutfioient foroe to divert the opponents charge (repthe head element A) to the an.

- it practically the same instant the user strikes the head element A a blow, he moves fluently-with hisrightfoot and driveshis gglfsheulder against the body element PB,

, hrepreeents the adjacent-player of the m ve'line. In so doing, the user diverts the charge of the adjacent offensive lineman tothe right, and tends to spread or separate the two offensive linemen represented by the head element A and the right hand body element B. The right arm and elbow of the user are now quickly driven hard to the right into the body element B, so as to wedge the users o pgnents' farther apart, the users left han ing thrown over the opponent located at his left (represented by the headele, ment A), and used to exert a push or. thrust on said element A in a direction-to forcethe user forward-1y through the offensive line, The above described action of going through the apparatus reproduces with substantial accuracy the action :of a defensive line player going forwardly between two offensive players, and it is done quickly and without hesitation in the forward movement of the user, although the user takes a somewhat zigzag course in charging forwardly between the head element A and the right hand element B. In order to become proficient itlis essential that the user learnto employ both hands in the blow and step-movement,*as

it is more natural for the average player to usethe right hand than the left hand in charging an offensive line. If the left hand of the user is to be employed. in the opa'ration of deflecting the head element A Laterally, the'user lunges forwardly between the head element A and the left hand bodyieler ment B, and uses his left shoulder to'fexert a lateral thrust or. push on the body element B substantially simultaneously with theoperation of exerting a lateral thrust to the right on that portion of the apparatus, to wit, the headzelement A, that represents the head or head and shoulders of the ofi'ensive line player standing {at one side of the player represented'by the body element B.

It is believed to be-unn'ecessary to describe in detail the precise method of using the apparatus in instructing plat ers in all of the important fundamentals o ,defensiveline play for which the. apparatus'isflapplicab but I desire to oint but that 'one'desirable characteristic o my'apparatus is that the head element .A of same is-ecapable of v reversed, as shown in F igure 4, oral-r m such a position that it projects "rearwardly from its supporting post '2 'in'instanbes .whelte it is essential or desirable-t0 havean unobstructed space between the body elemental and B, for example, in praetising'the' ihlnda; mentalscommonlyreferred to as the straight arm shiver and in'instances" where it is essential or esirable to have an unobstmw ed spacesurrounding the head elementA,

for example, in practising the fundamental commonly referred to as =hooking. i. 1

I am aware of the fact'thattraining appfl: ratushave heretofore been suggested for. use in instructing football players, butimy apparatus is distinctly ,difl'erent, botwh in monstroufootball training apparatus. The function 'o'f'football training apparatus of the kind disclosed-"in the prior toassiat in in strueting a player how to block in the line of an opposing team, or to "form tion and in principle of operation, ,fa'm'n prior theoretical openings in the "opposing line.

The" function of my .appa-tatusis entimly difiemnt, and as previously pointed-outd tda'ssist in teaching football players the fundamentals of defensive lineplay. My

' apparatus also differs in construction and principle of operation from prior training apgea'atus, in that it comprises a laterallyde table element that represents the head or headand shoulders of, a defensive line player, and which is mounted in such amanline, mounted'in such a mannerthat the user.

must exert a direct lateral thrust or blow on the head element with one or both hands, and

exert a direct lateral thrust or push on one ofthe body elements with vhis "shoulder or 7 body, in order to force 'said'elementsapart sufliciently to permit the user to wardly between the same, 1

Having thus described my invention, what v I claim-as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a football line charging apparatus, the combination of a head element thatrepre'sentsan offensive lineman, "a supporting structure, a carrier for said head element consisting of a horizontally-disposed leaf spring mounted on said supporting structure so that the length ofsaid spring can be varied, a

movable body element arranged in spaced relationship with said head element at one side of same, and a resilient means for resisting outward movement ofsaid body element relatively to said head element. I

2. In a football line charging apparatus, the combination of a head element that rep resents an ofl'ensive lineman, a supporting structure ahorizontally disposed laterallyflexible device reversiblyimounted' on said supporting structure for carrying said element, a laterall ra. in ced element atone side of same,'and a s ring for resisting outward movement of said ody element, relatively to said head element.

3. A :football line charging apparatus,

7 comprising three elements that represent three'ofiensive linemen in the act of starting or moving towards a defensive line, one of said elements being arranged substantially midway between the other elements :and in such a manner that it is capable of flexing or vibrating laterally to the right orto the left from'a center'line, and the side elements being mounted so that either of sameis capable of moving outwardly relatively to said center element, when subjected to. a lateral thrust or ush'from the user who is passing between t e center element and one sideelelunge for- Y element.

movable body element arrelationship with said head comprising three elements that represent three ofiensivelinemen disposed so that one of said elements is located substantially midway the other two elements, a horizontallydisposed, laterally flexible supporting device for the center element arrangedatthe rear of said centerelement and adapted to permit said element to flex or vibrate, in opposite directions from a center lineyand resilient means for resisting. outward movement of said side elements relatively to said center .6. A" football line charging apparatus,

comprising threeposts or uprights imbedded in the ground and'disposed in substantially triangular relationship, a head element arrangedin advance of said center post and mounted so as to be capable of flexing laterally in opposite directionsfrom a center line, and reciprocating body elements -car-* ried by said side posts and mounted so as to be capable of yielding laterally relatively to said head element. I v I a I e 7. A, football linecharging apparatus, comprising three posts or uprights imbedded in the ground and arranged in substantially triangular relationship, a horizontally dis:

posed leaf spring projecting forwardly from i said center post and arranged so as to be capable of flexing laterally, means for enabling the relationship between said spring and center post to be changed, a head element carried by said spring, body elements arranged at opposite sides of said head element, and spring-pressed plungers' rigidly attached to said: body mounted in said side posts.

8; In a football line charging apparatus,

the combination of a head element and a body element representing offensive linemen, ar-

ranged in spaced relation, said head element being mounted so as to be capable offlexing or vibrating laterally, and said body element being mounted so that it is capable of moving outwardly relatively to said head element when subjected tofa lateral thruster push I from the user who'y-is passing between said elements. V 1 BERNARD F. OAKESL:

' 4:. A football line charging apparatus, 1 comprising three elements that represent j A 7 three offensive linemen, disposed so thatone v y i e away elements and reciprocatingly I 

